Bristol Rovers cult hero Tony Craig has dropped down a division to join National League Dorking Wanderers on loan until the end of the season.
Craig has made the switch from League Two Crawley Town, who he signed for after leaving the Gas in 2020, after making the last of his 16 league appearances this season on Boxing Day.
Dorking become the eighth club of the veteran centre-back’s career with the 37-year-old still held in high regard at the Mem after a staggeringly consistent two-and-a-half years in blue and white in which he made 120 appearances.
"Tony's experience speaks for itself, with over 750 league appearances mainly in the Championship and League One - he is the most experienced player ever to join Dorking Wanderers,” manager Marc White said.
“He is a leader, a proven winner and warrior having gained a popular status everywhere he has gone. He brings a wealth of leadership qualities, not least his ability to organise on the pitch and we are flattered to get his signature.”
Dorking lie 20th in the National League, and possess the worst defensive record of all the fifth tier’s 24 teams with 69 goals against in 29 games, and Craig could make his debut this Saturday against Bromley.
“I'm pleased to have joined Dorking Wanderers. I'm really looking forward to meeting the lads but more importantly, I can't wait to get started on Saturday,” Craig said.
Craig was a regular in the first half of the season under Kevin Betsy but the managerial churn at Broadfield, which has also seen Matthew Etherington depart after just 32 days, has then seen him lose his place under new head coach Scott Lindsey.
Craig played his last game for the Gas in March 2020 against Sunderland at the Mem, which also marked his 600th career appearance, before the pandemic brought an early end to that campaign and subsequently his contract wasn’t renewed as former head coach Ben Garner underwent a cost-cutting exercise in north Bristol.
The defender, who has also played for Millwall, Crystal Palace and Brentford as permanent clubs along with loan spells at Wycombe Wanderers and Leyton Orient, marked his 700th appearance in November and shows no sign of letting up with his 38th birthday in April.
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